NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Buckle Assembly
420.0%
Engine
315.0%
Retractor
315.0%
Filler Pipe AND CAP
210.0%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator
210.0%
Catalytic Convertor
210.0%
Driveshaft
210.0%
Switch
210.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 17Mar 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Honda Civic
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA94035Opened 27 Oct 1994Closed 31 Jul 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
PE94052Opened 11 Jul 1994Closed 27 Oct 1994SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS
EA89005Opened 16 Nov 1988Closed 30 Nov 1989VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL SYSTEM VENTING
===
Recalls on the 1986 Honda Civic
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
95V103001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
88V180000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
UNDER HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTACT UNIT COULD LOOSEN AND BECOME DISLODGED.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AND WOULDAFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY.
86V045000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
LEFT SIDE DRIVE SHAFT COULD DEVELOP CRACKS NEAR THE OUTER JOINT.
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: DURING HIGH STRESS SITUATIONS, SUCH AS RAPID ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, THE DRIVE SHAFT COULD BREAK WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND A VEHICLE CRASH.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995086423,467 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the platic front seatbelt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no latch, false latch or failure to unlatch condition could occur creating the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Correction: Front seatbelt buckles will be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Recall 19860351,111 units in Canada
Powertrain
On certain vehicles, during a high driveshaft stress situation such as rapid acceleration or deceleration, the left side driveshaft could break and cause a sudden loss of power. Note: Vehicles equipped with 1.3 litre or 1.5 litre engines.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Decatur, GAFire
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, 5 MINUTES LATER, THE HORN WAS BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN CONTINUOUSLY BEEPING. TWO MINUTES AFTER A LOUD NOISE LIKE EXPLOSION, FOUND OUT VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THEN HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. FRICTION FROM WHEEL BEARING TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE FIRE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #834909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brookline, MAFire2 injured
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
DISINTEGRATED/CORRODED FUEL FILTER PIPE, RESULTING IN PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER CAR IN THE MORNING ONLY WHEN TANK IS FULL. DURING REPAIRS CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO VAPORS IGNITING DURING A PASSINGELECTRICAL STORM.
NHTSA complaint #521354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Catlettsburg, KYCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE, CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM BELT BUCKLE. RECALL#96V103001.
NHTSA complaint #803722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pikesville, MDCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #986379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverside, RICrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SEAT BELT SYSTEM FAILED DURING AN ACCIDENT. TT
NHTSA complaint #970917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 135,368 milesRohnert Park, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
The contact owns a 1986 Honda Civic. The contact stated that whether the vehicle was parked, stationary, or driven, the seat belt was difficult to retract. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the seat belts became difficult to retract even more frequently over time. The contact tested the seat belts, and the seat belts stopped recoiling. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,368.
NHTSA complaint #11649594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,368 milesRohnert Park, CA
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
The contact owns a 1986 Honda Civic. The contact stated that whether the vehicle was parked, stationary, or driven, the seat belt was difficult to retract. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the seat belts became difficult to retract even more frequently over time. The contact tested the seat belts, and the seat belts stopped recoiling. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,368.
NHTSA complaint #11649594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auburn, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 HONDA CIVIC. THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY BROKE DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BROKEN DOWN FIVE TIMES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND A REASON WHY THIS IS HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER FIRST BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10134135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesCorpus Christi, TX
STRUCTURE
THE 1986 HONDA CRX HAS PLASTIC FENDERS THAT HOLD THE SIDE MARKER LAMPS. THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME VERY BRITTLE OVER TIME. MY SIDE MARKER LIGHTS ARE ONLY HELD ON BY A CLUMSY, PLUG-IN ATTACHMENT NEXT TO THE HEADLIGHT. THE TWO SCREW HOLES THAT HOLD THE LAMPS ARE USELESS IN THE FENDERS THAT ARE BOTH BROKEN IN SEVERAL SPOTS. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10036632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
SEAT BELTS
THE SEATBELT ANCHOR POINTS NEAR THE DOORS HAVE BOTH RUSTED OUT AND DO NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY. THE CAR IS NOW IN VIOLATION OF NATIONAL SEATBELT LAWS. WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT WILL HONDA DO? THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #748378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portland, OR
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
THE TRIM PIECE ABOVE THE FRONT BUMPER IN FRONT OF THE HOOD IS CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER CRX'S AND EVERY SIMILAR CRX I HAVE SEEN IS CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACES.
NHTSA complaint #746401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kalaheo, HI
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOTH FENDERS HAVE CRACKS MIDWAY BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR FENDER, THERE ARE ALSO CRACKS ACROSS THE FRONT IN THE METAL WHICH IS BETWEEN THE HOOD AND BUMPER. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kalaheo, HI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
THE LOW BEAM SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CAUSING THE LIGHT TO GO OUT, THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING WITH LOW BEAM, BEAMS DIED OUT AND WENT TO 0. CONSUMER STATED SWITCH WAS FAULTY. *AK THE LOW BEAM SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE LOW BEAM INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #879767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, GAFire
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, 5 MINUTES LATER, THE HORN WAS BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN CONTINUOUSLY BEEPING. TWO MINUTES AFTER A LOUD NOISE LIKE EXPLOSION, FOUND OUT VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THEN HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. FRICTION FROM WHEEL BEARING TOO CLOSE TO BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE FIRE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #834909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pacific PA, CA
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING BROKE CAUSING SEAT TO SWING BACK.
NHTSA complaint #509580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bryn Mawr, PA
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH FAILURE. ALSO ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #533198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bryn Mawr, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CLUTCH FAILURE. ALSO ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #533198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brookline, MAFire2 injured
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
DISINTEGRATED/CORRODED FUEL FILTER PIPE, RESULTING IN PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER CAR IN THE MORNING ONLY WHEN TANK IS FULL. DURING REPAIRS CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO VAPORS IGNITING DURING A PASSINGELECTRICAL STORM.
NHTSA complaint #521354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kensington, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #518457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lenoir, TN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK CORRECTED. PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE LISTED RECALL 95V103001, SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
NHTSA complaint #814283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Puyallup, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED 2 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #511483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT. Collins, CO
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE DRIVESHAFT HAS A CRACK IN IT .THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HONDA CIVIC , CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WITH VIN . CONSUMER WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #813376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sykesville, MD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN TANK IS FILLED.
NHTSA complaint #515455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Williamsburg, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL #95V1030.01, ORDERED PARTS IN NOVEMBER OF 96. RECEIVED CALL FROM DEALER ON APRIL 25, 1997 STATING THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WAITED MORE THAN (60) DAYS.
NHTSA complaint #811799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burnsville, MN
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY RUSTED AND CORRODED AND RUPTURED THE VEHICLE LINE, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #808583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hereford, AZ
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVESHAFT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #510856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.